Air-filled sandal



Dec. 15, 1964 H. AAsKov AIR-FILLED sANDAL Filed June 7, 1963 m. TV, w n M United States Patent 3,160,963 A1B-FILLED SANDAL Helmer Aasirov, 8053 S. @range Ave., Fresno 25, Calif. Filed .inne 7, 1963, Ser. No. 286,379 Claims. (Q1. .i6-11.5)

This invention relates to articles of footwear, and more particularly to a scandal of the air-cushioned type.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved article of footwear having an intiated footsupporting portion, the article being simple in construction, being attractive in appearance, and Ibeing comfortable to wear. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fair-cushioned sandal which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, which is adapted to be attached to the wearers foot without requiring the use of fastening straps, and which provides a'yielding but comfortabie support for the users foot.

`Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of an improved aircushioned sandal constructed in accordance with the present invention. p

FGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional View taken through the sandal substantially on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view showing the components of the sandal in separated positions. i

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the' sandal wherein the inflatable cushion element and the fastening strip of the sandal are formed integrally.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 5, 11 generally designates an improved cushioned sandal constructed in accordance with the present invention. The sandal 11 comprises a relatively rigid main body 12 which has a contour to conform with the general shape of a persons foot, said main body 12 being of molded plastic or other suitable durable material. The bottom surface of the body 12 may be ribbed, corrugated, or otherwise formed with a suitable gripping pattern.

The relatively rigid main body 12 is provided with the upstanding continuous marginal wall or rib 13 delining a recess 14, and said body 13 is further formed in said recess with a plurality of upstanding integral pin elements 15 located adjacent the marginal wall or rib 13 and radially spa-ced along said marginal rib inthe manner shown in FGURF. 1.

Designated at. 1d is .a rubber Ifastening strip which is shaped to closely t inside the cavity 14 against the inside surface of the continuous marginal rib 13, the strip 16 being formed with apertures 17 spaced to receive the pins 15. The inside surface of the fastening strip 16 isconcave, as shown at 18, fora purpose presently to be described.

Designated at 19 is an inatable cushion member which comprises a hollow body of iniiatable material, such as rubber, plastic material, or the like, shaped to t closely inside the fastening stripl 16 and having the convex outer edge 20 engageable in the concave channel 18 on the inside surface of the fastening strip 16. The hollow body 19 is provided with an ination valve 21 at the inter- 3,16%,963 Patented Dec. 1 5, 1964 mediate portion of one side edge thereof, for admitting air into the hollow body 19 by means of a suitable air pump or other inflating device provided with a hollow needle which may be inserted into the aperture of the valve 21. The valve 21 is of conventional construction and may be of the type having an inner ap which is held over the mouth of the valve to prevent air from escaping therethrough after the body 19 has been inserted to the desired pressure. A suicient quantity of air is introduced into the body 19 to provide a comfortable and yieldable cushioning action.

The top Wall 22 of the inatable body 19 is integrally formed with a plurality of spaced suction cups 23 which face upwardly and which are adapted to be grippingly engaged with the underside of the wearers foot, the suction cups 23 being distributed over the area of the top wall 22 in the manner illustrated in FGURES l, 2 and 5, so as to grip the underside of the users foot at adjacent points distributed over the foot area. Thus, a relatively large number of suction cups 23 are provided respectively at the sole and heel portions of the cushion member 19, whereas relatively few suction cups 23 are provided in the region between the sole and heel portions, for example, a single line of suction cups 23 may be provided in the area underlying the arch portion of the foot. The top wall 22 is furthermore provided with transversly extending ribs 24 which serve to somewhat reinforce the top wall 22 mechanically, as well as providing a ymassaging action on the lunderside of the wearers foot.-

In assembling the sandal 11, the fastening strip 16 is first placed in the cavity 14, the apertures 17 being forced over the pins 15, so that the strip is secured closely adjacent to and in continuous contact with the inside surface of the upstanding marginal wall 13 of main body 12. The cushion member 19, inflated to a suitable pressure is then forced into the space inside the strip 16, the convex edge 20 of the cushioning member lockingly engaging in the concave channel 1S at the inside surface of the strip 16,

locks it with respect to the upstanding relatively rigid pins 15.

As will be readily apparent, the sandal may be fastened to the foot by merely stepping downwardly onto the exposed top wall Z2 of the cushion member 19, the suction cups 23 being forced against the bottom surfaces of the foot and gripping same. Thus no fastening straps or other fastening means are required.

As shown in FGURE 6, the inflatable cushioning body 19 may be integrally combined with the fastening strip 16 by yforming the elements in the same mass. Thus, in FIGURE 6 the body of the inflatable member 19' is integrally provided with the marginal portion ld'having the apertures 17' adapted to receive the upstanding pins 1S of the main relatively rigid body 12 of the sandal. The top wall 22 of the inflatable member 19' is formed in the same manner as in the previously described form of the invention, namely, is provided vwith the integral upwardly facing suction cups 23 and the transversely extending upstanding ribs 2d. The sandal formed by using the cushion member shown in FIGURE 6 is assembled in substantially the same manner as previously described, except that only a single step is required after the body 19 has been inserted, namely, the forcing the body into the cavity 14 of the rigid main supporting body 12 of the sandal with the pins 15 received in the apertures 17.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved air-cushioned sandal have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitation be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sandal comprising a relatively rigid main body formed with a recess generally in the shape of a foot, a plurality of upstanding pins integrally formed n said main body adjacent the Walls of the recess, an inflatable cushion member shaped to be received in said recess, means to secure the edge portions of the cushion member to said pins, and a plurality of upwardly facing suction cups on `the top surface of the cushion member.

2. A sandal comprising a relatively rigid main body formed with a recess generally in the shape of a foot, a plurality of upstanding pins integrally formed in said main body adjacent the walls of the recess, an inatable cushion member shaped to be received in said recess, means to secure the peripheral edge portion of the cushion member to said pins, a plurality of upwardly facing suction cups integrally formed on the top surface of the cushion member, and a plurality of upstanding parallelV spaced ribs integrally formed on the top surface of the cushion member.

3. A sandal comprising a relatively rigid main body formed with a recess generally in the shape of a foot, a plurality of upstanding pins integrally formed in said main body adjacent the walls of the recess, an inflatable cushion member shaped to be received in said recess, a resilient deformable continuous fastening strip engaged in the recess adjacent the inner side wall surface thereof, said strip having apertures receiving said pins, the peripheral edge portion of the cushion member being lockingly received inside the fastening strip, whereby to secure the cushion member to said pins, and a plurality of upwardly facing suction cups on the top surface of the cushion member.

4. A sandal comprising a relatively rigid main body formed with a recess generally in the shape of a foot, a plurality of upstanding pins integrally formed in said main body adjacent the walls of the recess, an inflatable cushion member shaped to be received in said recess, a resilient deformable continuous fastening strip engaged in the recess adjacent the inside wall surface thereof, said strip having apertures receiving said pins, the fastening strip having a concave inside surface lockingly receiving the peripheral edge portion of the cushion member, whereby to secure the cushion member to said pins, and a plurality of upwardly facing suction cups integrally formed in the top surface of the cushion member. y

5. A sandal comprising a relatively rigid main body formed with a recess generally in the shape of a foot, a plurality of upstanding pins integrally formed in said main body adjacent the walls of the recess, an inatable cushion member shaped to Ibe received in said recess, a resilient deformable continuous fastening strip engaged in the recess adjacent the inside wall surface thereof, said strip having apertures receiving said pins, the fastening strip having a concave inside surface lockingly receiving the peripheral edge portions of the cushion member, whereby to secure the cushion member to said pins, a plurality of upwardly facing suction cups integrally formed in the top surface of the cushion member, and a plurality of upstanding parallel ribs integrally formed on the top surface of the cushion member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,180 Mohun Feb. 22, 1938 2,985,970 McCarthy May 30, 1961 3,059,350 Price Oct. 23, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,035,397 France Apr. l5, 1953 

1. A SANDAL COMPRISING A RELATIVELY RIGID MAIN BODY FORMED WITH A RECESS GENERALLY IN THE SHAPE OF A FOOT, A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING PINS INTEGRALLY FORMED IN SAID MAIN BODY ADJACENT THE WALLS OF THE RECESS, AN INFLATABLE CUSHION MEMBER SHAPED TO BE RECEIVED IN SAID RECESS, MEANS TO SECURE THE EDGE PORTIONS OF THE CUSHION MEMBER TO SAID PINS, AND A PLURALITY OF UPWARDLY FACING SUCTION CUPS ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE CUSHION MEMBER. 